This was probably the most stupid fire in Moscow for the last few years. What was so stupid about it? Well, the building on those pictures on fire was one of the theaters in Moscow, Russia. It has got on fire and pretty soon firefighter squads started arriving. They wanted to enter the building to stop the fire from the inside while it’s not too late but… that’s when all the stupidity begins: the security guards on the entrance have not let the firemen in. That’s what you call the best order subjection ever. In that theater building there was a private disco club also. And the owners of the club gave a strict order to the guards: “Don’t let ANYBODY in until further instructions would be given”. Of course they said it before the fire, but for those guys on the entrance there was only one rule: “We have an order and we have to obey”. So they didn’t let any single fireman to enter even when they have seen the fire itself. A few hours firemen couldn’t enter the building and had to watch how the fire takes over and over the historical building in the Moscow downtown.

You probably aren’t too far off the mark with that comment except for one thing… Fire insurance as we know it in the west really doesn’t exist.

A more likely scenario is someone didn’t pay their ‘krysha’

The reactions of the guards was so Russian as to be almost beyond belief if it weren’t true. They have to obey orders because if they don’t then they would be fired. Of course they didn’t stop to think that if the damn thing burned to the ground their services wouldn’t be needed anyway!

Russians simply cannot think for themselves. They will follow ANY order, any directive to the letter, but when it comes time to make a judgement call.. even on something as obvious as this… they fall apart.

Of course each person is entitled to their opinion. Mine was based on living here for the past 6 years. Does it qualify me as an expert on all things Russian? Of course not. But it does give me plenty of time to observe Russians in their daily lives and that is what I based my comment on.

Not all Russians are brain-numbed robots. Your comment proves that. I have met many through the years that were very forward-thinking. They were the people who were trying to get out of Russia because in their own words ‘There is no place for an independent thought in Russia’.

The joke was funny, although many in the west may not fully understand it!

Your comment was based on Racism and hate. and after ZDANEK made you look like an ass, you ate your words….now I can make a comment like yours and say all americans (or whatever your nationality) can only make their mind up based on what someones else tells them. You are a hypocrite and a fool.